What ATAR English subjects do you tutor?

We tutor ATAR English (Year 11 and 12) at our Bentley and Canning Vale centres and live online across WA. We can also support students taking ATAR Literature on request.

Is English ATAR or English Literature better for ATAR?

Literature scales slightly higher than English, but only marginally (2 to 4 marks at the median). Take the subject you can score highest in; scaling is not a useful tie-breaker.

Does English ATAR satisfy university entry?

Yes. A scaled mark of 50 or higher in English ATAR (or English Literature, or English as Additional Language/Dialect) satisfies the English Language requirement for all five WA universities.

How do I improve my English ATAR mark?

Build the four skills WACE markers reward: conceptual claim before evidence, close reading of language not content, acknowledgement of complexity, and tight comparative paragraphs. Weekly essay marking accelerates this most.

All subjects

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ATAR English Tutoring in Perth

English or English Literature? We teach both, in small classes (max 10), led by experienced ATAR grads who sat the same papers.

Book a free trial lesson Compare the subjects

Two ATAR English subjects in WA

English or Literature. Which one's right for you?

In WA, ATAR English splits into two SCSA courses: English (the broad, persuasive/imaginative/interpretive course most students take) and English Literature (deeper textual analysis, poetry, and critical theory). Picking the right subject for how you read and write matters more than picking the harder one. Below, the side-by-side, then a deeper page for each.

	English	English Literature Info only
Educatta teaches?	Yes	Not currently
Class size at Educatta	Max 10 students	n/a
Course focus	Persuasive, imaginative and interpretive responses to texts and media	Close textual analysis, poetry, prose and dramatic texts through literary theory
Texts studied (typical)	Films, novels, articles, speeches, ads	Canonical novels, plays, poetry collections, often pre-20th-century
Suits which student	Strong arguer, comfortable across many text types	Loves close reading, poetry, and digging into language for its own sake
Scaling pattern	Sits roughly neutral (small adjustments year to year)	Scales up slightly (small cohort, generally stronger applicants)
Weekly hours (typical)	2 hrs class + 3 to 5 hrs reading and drafting	2 hrs class + 4 to 6 hrs reading and analysis
Exam structure	50% external (3-section essay paper). 50% school-assessed	50% external (essays on set texts). 50% school-assessed

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ATAR · Yr 11 & 12

English

The broad ATAR English most Perth students sit. Persuasive, imaginative and interpretive responses across films, novels and media texts.

TextsFilms, novels, articles
ScalesRoughly neutral
Best forMost uni paths

See English page

Info only

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ATAR · Yr 11 & 12

English Literature

The deeper, scholarly track. Close reading of canonical poetry, prose and drama through literary theory. Smaller cohort, stronger writers.

TextsPoetry, plays, novels
ScalesUp (slightly)
Best forArts, law, humanities

See English Literature page

Questions Perth parents ask

Common questions about ATAR English in Perth.

Can I do both English and English Literature?

SCSA allows it, and a small number of WA students do, but the workload is heavy. The two subjects share skills (essay structure, textual analysis) but need different reading lists. If you genuinely enjoy reading and writing, doing both can lift your ATAR. If English is already your weakest subject, doubling up adds risk without much reward.

What if I'm middle of the road in Year 10 English?

English is the safer pick. The course is broader, the texts are more accessible, and the marking is forgiving for students who can argue clearly. Save Literature for students who already love poetry and close reading. We run a free trial in both so you can see which class fit feels right before locking it in.

Does English Literature scale higher than English?

Slightly, yes. Literature attracts a smaller, generally stronger cohort, so it scales up by a few points. But the gap is much smaller than the gap between Methods and Applications. Pick the subject you'll actually enjoy reading for, because two years is a long time to slog through texts you hate.

What if I'm aiming for law, arts or journalism?

All three accept either English course. Literature looks slightly more impressive on a humanities application, but admissions officers care more about your ATAR than which English you took. If you can score 80+ in English, that beats a 70 in Literature every time. Pick the one you can perform in.

When should I consider tutoring for ATAR English?

The earlier the better. Most of our students start at the beginning of Year 11 so we can build essay scaffolds and reading habits before assessments hit. If you're already in Year 12 and your essays keep losing marks for the same reasons, we'll fix the structure first, then the language. Book a free trial, bring a recent essay, and we'll show you exactly where the marks are leaking.

Ready to lock in your English mark?

Book a free trial lesson in English or Literature this week. Bring your school's last essay. We'll tell you exactly where the marks are leaking.

Book a free trial lesson

No obligation · $48/hr in package · Bentley, Canning Vale, or online · See full pricing →

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